University of Alabama

Here we go with SEC #2, the University of Alabama.

Oh. My. Word. This is by far the prettiest campus we have seen so far. Everything was larger and bigger than really necessary, but it all fit together like a movie set. The welcome center (formally a hospital) was redone in 2008 and was now available for rental/receptions.

The campus is ginormous – so large that we had to board a bus to cover the campus with 3 stops along the way. First stop was the student rec center… imagine the largest/nicest gym you’ve ever seen (in real life or tv/movies), then add multiple basketball courts, 25 yd lap pool, workout studios, classes and running/walking track. It was just crazy!

At Stop 2, we headed off to see a model dorm room. Let me just say, dorms have changed quite a bit in the 30 years since I was in college…

This all-female dorm is right across from sorority row and Bryant-Denny Stadium… bet this is a prime spot on game day. But these sorority and fraternity houses were insane! Seems like everywhere else you live in life is going to be a downgrade after this.

Our last stop was into the heart of the campus, library and student center. Everything on the campus was so clean and manicured. I don’t think we saw one piece of trash ANYWHERE.

Both boys were impressed but both said they didn’t see themselves going here. (Whew! Because I don’t think I could leave them 9 hours away from home). They said it was just too fancy for them.

We checked out a few more stops on our own, and of course, had to get a t-shirt (it’s our college tour tradition). And then we hit the road for our next visit. As we drove, I started researching a local spot for lunch. I kept finding articles on J&J’s Grocery and Deli in Bessemer, Alabama. Since we don’t have anywhere to be until tomorrow morning, off we went to find it.

Don’t let the outside fool you, this place was AWESOME! Michael said it was the best cheeseburger he has ever had in his whole life! Leo said the same thing about the onion rings, and the chili cheese dogs were fantastic! When they found out we were first-timers, they yelled, honked a horn and rang a cow bell. We sat across from a sweet couple who lived 10 miles from J&J’s and came here once a month for the last 30 years. When we asked how long J&J had been here, he said he moved there in 1968 and it had been there a while before then. So glad we took time to find this place!

Bellies WAY too full, we headed to our next stop: Georgia! We checked into our hotel – loved the coathanger hooks (little bulldogs), and then headed out for dinner. The hotel clerk recommended a local pizza place, Stoner’s Pizza, within walking distance, so off we went. We loved all the bulldogs around town.